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More and more, cops are using social media as a tool to investigate crimes and reach out to their communities. And it's not just a fad of funny tweets or YouTube surveillance videos — some are saying it's becoming a necessary tool for policing.

A standoff that began with a shocking attack at a Kenyan mall Saturday is in its second day, with civilians held hostage by gunmen in the upscale shopping center. The authorities say they have isolated the attackers. Red Cross officials report 68 deaths and at least 200 wounded.

Omar Hammami was a bright Alabama kid who turned into a self-described terrorist in Somalia. In the months preceding Hammami's sudden death, journalist J.M. Berger struck up a conversation with him on Twitter.

Hassan Sheikh Mohamud says Somalia needs international help to move into recovery and then toward development. During his year in office, Mohamud has lead an effort to drive out the extremist group al-Shabab, which has terrorized cities and towns across the country.

A U.S. Navy helicopter has crashed in the Red Sea, carrying a crew of five, the military service says. The status of the crew is not yet known; a search and rescue effort was begun after the crash. "The crash was not due to any sort of hostile activity," the Navy says.

Survivors' accounts and photographs provide new detail to the chaos that erupted Saturday. Attackers used grenades and guns to begin a standoff in a Nairobi mall that lasted into Sunday.

Costello has teamed with hip-hop legends The Roots for one of the more unusual, invigorating musical partnerships of the year. NPR's Arun Rath speaks with Costello and Roots bandleader Ahmir "?uestlove" Thompson about the new album Wise Up Ghost.

A Chinese court has sentenced Bo Xilai, the former Politburo member who was snared on graft charges, to life in prison. The sentence for offenses that include bribery, embezzlement, and abuse of power completes a shocking fall for Bo, who had been a rising star in China's political system.

Cyclist Jacob Landis, who rode more than 10,000 miles to raise money for cochlear implants, will miss out on the final miles of his ride after being hit by a truck Saturday. Landis' goal was to ride to every Major League Baseball stadium; he says he'll still go to the final game on his schedule.

An al-Qaida offshoot has taken Azaz from Western-backed Free Syrian Army fighters, demonstrating the growing power of jihadists. Azaz, an economic gateway between Syria and Turkey, is now cut off.